Wellington: Thousands marched New Zealandthe capital of wellington on Thursday against against covid-19 Vaccination mandate and lockdown, as the country reaches the 90% fully immunization milestone.
New Zealand’s strict lockdown and vaccination campaign have helped keep coronavirus infections and related deaths down, but it has also drawn criticism for some more freedoms and calls for an end to mandatory vaccine requirements.
The government has made vaccination mandatory for teachers, workers in the health and disability sectors, police and other public service sectors.
Protesters, mostly unmasked, walked through Wellington’s central business district and gathered in front of the Parliament House, known as the Beehive.
Beehive security has been tightened and entrances have been closed and dozens of police have been deployed.
In the peaceful demonstration, some carried placards with messages such as “freedom over fear”, “lockdowns destroy lives” and “kiwis are not lab rats”. On others were signs of former US President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Under mounting pressure, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern eased most restrictions ahead of the Christmas break, abandoning her long-term strategy to eliminate the coronavirus for a new “traffic light” system of living with the virus through higher vaccinations. Gave.
The South Pacific island nation’s international borders remain closed to the outside world and will only be opened gradually over the next year.
The government said 90% of New Zealand’s eligible population, or about 3.8 million people, had been fully vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the health regulator gave provisional approval for Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11.
New Zealand’s strict lockdown and vaccination campaign have helped keep coronavirus infections and related deaths down, but it has also drawn criticism for some more freedoms and calls for an end to mandatory vaccine requirements.
The government has made vaccination mandatory for teachers, workers in the health and disability sectors, police and other public service sectors.
Protesters, mostly unmasked, walked through Wellington’s central business district and gathered in front of the Parliament House, known as the Beehive.
Beehive security has been tightened and entrances have been closed and dozens of police have been deployed.
In the peaceful demonstration, some carried placards with messages such as “freedom over fear”, “lockdowns destroy lives” and “kiwis are not lab rats”. On others were signs of former US President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Under mounting pressure, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern eased most restrictions ahead of the Christmas break, abandoning her long-term strategy to eliminate the coronavirus for a new “traffic light” system of living with the virus through higher vaccinations. Gave.
The South Pacific island nation’s international borders remain closed to the outside world and will only be opened gradually over the next year.
The government said 90% of New Zealand’s eligible population, or about 3.8 million people, had been fully vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the health regulator gave provisional approval for Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11.
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